Soil cultivating implements

ABSTRACT

A cultivating implement has a supporting frame and elongated tined beams, extending transverse to the direction of travel, located below the frame. Each tined beam is connected to respective eccentric mechanisms mounted on two rotatable shafts that extend in the direction of travel and the shafts are supported on frame beams. One of the shafts is connected to a driving shaft via a gear box that houses a step-up gear transmission and drives the other shaft via the beams. The tined beams are moved through circular paths out of phase with respect to one another and can mount tines that crumble soil or strip-shaped tines that cut vegetation. A supporting roller is adjustably mounted on the frame to trail the tines and further work the soil.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the samemay be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way ofexample, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an agricultural implement or machine in theform of a soil cultivating implement or machine in accordance with theinvention connected to the rear of an agricultural tractor,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation as seen in the direction indicated by anarrow II in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a rear view as seen in the direction indicated by arrowsIII--III in FIG. 1, a rear part of the implement or machine beingomitted in this Figure,

FIG. 4 is a section, to an enlarged scale, taken on the line IV--IV inFIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a part-sectional elevation, to an enlarged scale, illustratingthe construction and mounting of one tine of the implement or machine ingreater detail,

FIG. 6 is an elevation as seen in the direction indicated by an arrow VIin FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 5 but illustrates a form of ground-contactmember that is an alternative to the tine of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 8 is a section taken on the line VIII--VIII in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings, the soilcultivating implement or machine that is illustrated therein as oneexample of an agricultural implement to which the present invention canbe applied comprises a frame beam 1 that extends substantiallyhorizontally transverse, and usually (as illustrated substantiallyhorizontally perpendicular, to the intended direction of operativetravel of the implement which is indicated in several Figures of thedrawings by an arrow A. The beam 1 is of channel-shaped cross-sectionand is so disposed (see FIG. 2) that its web or base is contained in asubstantially vertical plane with its two limbs projecting horizontallyor substantially horizontally forwardly therefrom in parallelrelationship with one another and parallel or substantially parallelrelationship with the direction A. The opposite ends of the frame beam 1are bolted, welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the leading ends oftwo substantially horizontal frame beams 2 that extend parallel to oneanother and parallel or substantially parallel to the direction A, eachof the two frame beams 2 being of hollow formation and polygonalcross-section, the oblong cross-section that is illustrated (FIG. 3)being preferred but other polygonal cross-sections, such as square,being equally suitable. The rearmost ends of the two beams 2 withrespect to the direction A are rigidly interconnected, at the bottomsthereof, by a frame beam 3 that extends substantially horizontallyparallel to the frame beam 1 and thus substantially perpendicular, or atleast transverse, to the direction A, said frame beam 3 being ofconsiderably greater length than the frame beam 1 so that opposite endregions thereof project laterally well beyond the corresponding framebeams 2. It will be seen from FIG. 2 of the drawings that the frame beam3, like the frame beam 1, is of channel-shaped cross-section and isdisposed with its substantially vertically orientated web or baseforemost with respect to the direction A, the upper and lower limbs ofthe beam thus projecting substantially horizontally rearwardly from saidweb or base with respect to the direction A with the upper limbindirectly secured by bolts (see FIG. 4 to the bottoms of the two framebeams 2. The two end regions or portions of the frame beam 3 thatproject laterally beyond the corresponding beams 2 each have a lengthwhich is not less than substantially equal to one-third of the length ofthe frame beam 1.

The upright web or base of the frame beam 1 is formed at two locationswhich are spaced inwardly towards the midpoint of the beam by equaldistances from the two frame beams 2 with two holes whose centers aremidway between the upper and lower edges of said web of base. Each holereceives a part of a corresponding bearing housing 4, said housingshaving flanges that are secured to the web or base of the beam 1 bybolts 4A (FIG. 4). The leading ends of two parallel and substantiallyhorizontally disposed shafts 5 and 5A are rotatably receive in the ballor roller bearings (not illustrated) which are accommodated in the twobearings housings 4. The two shafts 5 and 5A are parallel to one anotherand parallel or substantially parallel to the direction A and each ofthem has a diameter of substantially 5 centimeters. When the implementis viewed from the rear in the direction A, the left-hand shaft 5 (FIG.4) has a region close to its rearmost end surrounded by a stepped sleeve7A. The smaller diameter step of the sleeve 7A is surrounded by theinner race of a ball bearing 6 and the outer race of that ball bearing 6is lodged inside a housing 7 that forms an integral part of a gear boxor casing 8, the latter being rigidly but relessably secured to theupper limb of the rear frame beam 3 by bolts. The other shaft 5A is alittle shorter in axial length than the shaft 5 and its rear end, withrespect to the direction A, is rotatably received in a ball or rollerbearing (not visible) mounted in a housing 9 that is rigidly butreleasably secured to the upper limb of the rear frame beam 3 by bolts.

Each of the two shafts 5 and 5A is provided at regularly spaced apartintervals along its length with a plurality (in this case, three) ofcorresponding eccentric mechanisms 10. The shafts 5 and 5A are formedwith splines throughout at least the greater parts of their lengths andeach mechanism 10 comprises a corresponding eccentrically bored disc orbush 11, the eccentric bore therein being internally splined to enablethe disc or bush 11 concerned to be movable axially along its shaft 5 or5A without being turnable angularly around the longitudinal axis thereofto any significant extent. The regular spacing between the threemechanisms 10 along each of the two shafts 5 and 5A is provided byfurnishing substantially identical internally splined spacer sleeves 12between the discs or bushes 11 of the respective mechanisms 10. Theinternally splined sleeve 7A that surrounds the shaft 5 acts to maintainthe rearmost one of the corresponding mechanisms 10 with respect to thedirection A in its correctly spaced relationship with the housing 7 ofthe gear box or casing 8. The leading mechanisms 10 with respect to thedirection A are maintained in their appointed positions axially alongthe shafts 5 and 5A by co-operation of their discs or bushes 11 withrear parts of the corresponding bearing housings 4. The outercylindrically curved surface of each eccentrically bored disc or bush 11is surrounded by the inner races of two adjoining ball bearings 13. Theadjoining ball bearings 13 are prevented from becoming axially displacedrelative to the disc or bush 11 of their eccentric mechanism 10 byco-operating with a larger diameter step in the outer cylindricallycurved surface of said disc or bush 11 and with a circlip 15A whoseinner edge is received in a groove in the cylindrically curved surfaceconcerned. The outer races of each pair of ball bearings 13 constitute asupport for a corresponding surrounding ring 14. Each ring 14 isretained against axial displacement relative to the corresponding ballbearings 13 by being formed with an internal shoulder towards one endthereof and by the provision of a circlip 15 towards the opposite endthereof, said circlip 15 having its outer edge received in an internalgroove of the ring 14 concerned and said circlip 15 also being arrangedto maintain part of a combined clamping member and lubricant seal 16 inposition between that circlip 15 and the corresponding circlip 15A. Inthe embodiment which is being described, the sizes of the discs ofbushes 11 of the three mechanisms 10 which correspond to each of the twoshafts 5 and 5A are such that the longitudinal axis of each basicallycylindrical disc or bush 11 is spaced from the longitudinal axis of theeccentric bore that is formed therethrough by a distance ofsubstantially 4 centimeters. Moreover, viewed lengthwise of each of thetwo shafts 5 and 5A, the true longitudinal axes of the three basicallycylindrical discs or bushes 11 that correspond thereto are spaced apartfrom one another at substantially 120° intervals around the longitudinalaxis of the shaft 5 or 5A concerned and the coincident longitudinal axesof the eccentric bores in the three respective discs or bushes 11.

The outer surface of each ring 14 is provided, at the bottom of thatring as seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings, with a pair of substantiallytangentially disposed lugs 17 and those lugs are rigidly but releasablysecured to a corresponding one of three beams 18 by bolts 21 and acorresponding clamping plate 20. The three beams 18 extend substantiallyhorizontally parallel to the beams 1 and 3 and each of them couplestogether the rings 14 of a corresponding pair of the eccentricmechanisms 10, one of those two mechanisms 10 corresponding to the shaft5 and the other thereof corresponding to the shaft 5A. Owing to theeccentric positions of the rings 14 around the shafts 5 and 5A, thethree beams 18, which are of equal length, are offset axially relativeto one another to a small extent (see FIG. 1). Each beam 18 is ofinverted channel-shaped cross-section, that is to say, the substantiallyhorizontally disposed web or base thereof that is secured to thecorresponding lugs 17 by the clamping plates 20 and bolts 21 isuppermost whereas substantially vertically disposed limbs 19 thereofproject downwardly from said web or base in parallel relationship withone another. Lower free end regions of the two limbs 19 of each beam 18have a similarly disposed beam 22 of much shallower channel-shapedcross-section arranged between them, the downwardly directed limbs ofeach beam 22 being secured to the downwardly directed limbs 19 of thecorresponding embracing beam 18 by a plurality of substantiallyhorizontally disposed and spaced apart bolts 23. In the embodiment whichis being described, the limbs of each shallow channel-shapedcross-section beam 22 project from the web or base thereof by a distancewhich is substantially one-fifth of the distance by which the limbs 19of each beam 18 project downwardly away from the web or base of thatbeam 18. The lowermost edges of the two limbs 19 of each beam 18 and thelowermost edges of the limbs of the corresponding shallower beam 22 areat the same horizontal level and a plurality of holders 24 are arrangedbetween the limbs of each beam 22 at substantially regularly spacedapart intervals along the length of that beam 22, said intervalsconveniently having magnitudes of substantially 20 centimeters. Eachholder 24 is maintained in its appointed position principally byco-operation with a corresponding pair of the bolts 23 and it will beseen from FIG. 5 of the drawings that each holder 24 has an upperfastening portion 25 which exhibits a flat surface that bears againstthe downwardly facing flat surface of the web or base of the beam 22concerned between the limbs of that beam. The downwardly directedsurface of each fastening portion 25 is formed with two partiallycylindrically curved recesses which recesses co-operate with thecorresponding pair of bolts 23 in retaining the holder 24 concerned inits appointed position.

Each holder 24 projects substantially perpendicularly downwards from itsfastening portion 25 and comprises a first portion which is of reducedsize as compared with the fastening portion 25 and a second downwardlytapering but substantially cylindrical sleeve-like portion. All three ofthe portions of each holder 24 are formed with a substantiallyvertically extending opening which has a polygonal cross-section, asquare cross-section being preferred. As can be seen in FIG. 5 of thedrawings, an upper end region of each opening is of reduced size, saidregion substantially coinciding with the fastening portion 25 of theholder 24 concerned. A shoulder is thus formed between the region ofeach opening that is of reduced size and the remainder of that openingand the upper end of a fastening portion 26 of a ground-contact memberabuts against said shoulder. In this embodiment, the ground-contactmember is in the form of a rigid soil working tine 27.

The fastening portion 26 of each tine 27 is of square or other polygonalcross-section to match the shape of the opening in the co-operatingholder 24 and it will be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings thatone side of each tine fastening portion 26 is formed, at a levelsubstantially midway between the upper and lower ends of said portion26, with a substantially horizontally extending recess that is ofshallow U-shaped or channel-shaped cross-section. A transverse bore isformed through the material of each holder 24 at a position which willregister with the recess in the fastening portion 26 of thecorresponding tine 27 when that tine is installed in its appointedposition and a cotter pin 28 that is formed with an oblique wedgingsurface is entered through the bore in each holder 24 in such a way thatsaid wedging surface co-operates with the upright base of the shallowU-shaped or channel-shaped recess in the corresponding tine fasteningportion 26. One end of each cotter pin 28 is formed, beyond the wedgingsurface thereof, with a screw-thread and, when the cotter pin 28 isarranged in its fastening position, the screwthreaded portion projectsfrom the end of the bore in the holder 24 concerned and is arranged toco-operate with a retaining nut 29 that can be tightened to prevent thecotter pin 28 from working loose. The lower end of the fastening portion26 of each tine 27 is integrally connected to a soil working portion 30of that tine, the longitudinal axis of said soil working portion 30being coincident with the longitudinal axis of the fastening portion 26.The soil working portion 30 of each tine 27 is basically ofsubstantially rhombic cross-section and tapers downwardly towards itslowermost free end or tip as seen in front or rear elevation (FIG. 5)whereas there is no significant downward taper as seen in side elevation(FIG. 6). Thus, the width of each soil working portion 30 near thelowermost free end or tip thereof as seen in the side view of FIG. 6 ofthe drawings is not less than substantially three times the width of thesame portion 30 at the same point as seen in front or rear elevation(FIG. 5).

The two corners of the substantially rhombic cross-section that arefarthest apart from one another are formed as ribs which ribs are at thefront and rear of the soil working portion 30 of each tine 27 withrespect to the direction A. The other two corners of each soil workingportion 30 are rounded off to some extent and four hollow grooves orrecesses 31 are formed in the four what would otherwise be flat sides ofeach soil working portion 30 so as to extend upwardly from the free endor tip thereof throughout most of the length of said portion 30. As canbe seen in the drawings, the grooves or recesses 31 have widths whichare substantially equal to the widths of the respective four sides ofeach soil working portion 30. The uppermost ends of the grooves orrecesses 31 become rapidly shallower and said grooves or recesses thusterminate at levels which are short distances beneath the junctionsbetween the soil working portions 30 and fastening portions 26 of thetines 27.

As previously mentioned, the tines 27 are so disposed that the longerdiagonals of the substantially rhombic cross-section of their soilworking portions 30 extend parallel or substantially parallel to thedirection A. It will also be remembered that the tines 27 are spacedapart from one another at regular distances along the correspondingbeams 18/22 and the arrangement is, in fact, such that, when tines 27that correspond to all three of the beams 18/22 are projected onto avertical plane by viewing the implement from the rear in the direction A(i.e. FIG. 3), said tines are disposed in groups of three with therespective groups spaced apart from one another in a horizontaldirection that is perpendicular to the direction A. Instead of employingthe tines 27 that have been described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 ofthe drawings, alternative ground-contact members in the form ofresilient strip-shaped tines 32 (FIGS. 7 and 8) may be used. The tines32 are, once again, connected to the beams 18 and 22, said tines 32being formed in integral pairs from, for example, steel strip, theirupper ends being integrally interconnected by a perpendicular, andusually substantially horizontally disposed, portion 33. The connectingportion 33 lies between the downwardly directed limbs of thecorresponding shallow channel-shaped beam 22 with its upper surface inabutting engagement with the lower surface of the web or base of thatbeam 22. Two bolts 23A perpendicularly interconnect the limbs of thecorresponding beams 18 and 22 at locations which coincide with theangular junctions between the upper ends of the two tines 32 of eachpair and the corresponding connecting portion 33 and it will be seenfrom FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings that this arrangement reliablymaintains each pair of tines 32 in its appointed position. The bolts 23Aare identical to the bolts 23 except that at least some of them occupydifferent positions lengthwise along the beams 18 and 22 as comparedwith the bolts 23. The pairs of tines 32 are, in fact, so dimensionedand positioned relative to one another that the individual tines arespaced apart from one another along the composite beam 18/22 by distancewhich advantageously have magnitudes of substantially 20 centimeters,the general plane of each spring steel or to other strip-shaped tine 32being parallel or substantially parallel to the direction A. It can beseen from FIG. 8 of the drawings that the lowermost end of each tine 32is formed as a substantially V-shaped tip.

The opposite ends of the rear frame beam 3 of the implement havesubstantially vertical plates 34 rigidly secured to them, said plates 34being parallel to one another and substantially parallel to thedirection A with both of them projecting rearwardly from said frame beam3 with respect to the direction A. The rigid perpendicular connectionbetween each plate 34 and the corresponding end of the frame beam 3 isstrengthened by the provision of a substantially triangular plate 35A.The leading ends of the two plates 34 with respect to the direction Acarry corresponding pivot pins 35 that are substantially horizontallyaligned in a direction that is perpendicular or substantiallyperpendicular to the direction A and arms 36 are turnable upwardly anddownwardly alongside the respective pivot pins 35 alongside thecorresponding plate 34. The arms 36 thus extend generally rearwardlyfrom the pivot pins 35 with respect to the direction A and each arm 36is formed at a distance from the corresponding pivot pin 35 with atleast one hole which hole can be brought into register with any chosenone of a number of holes 38 that are formed near the rearmost edge ofthe adjoining plate 34 at equal distances from the pivot pin 35concerned. Bolts 37 are provided for entry through the holes, or chosenholes, in the arms 36 and through chosen ones of the holes 38 in thecorresponding plates 34 and it will be appreciated that the holes whichare chosen for co-operation with the bolts 37 determine the angularpositions of the arms 36 about the substantially horizontal axis that isdefined by the pivot pins 35. Once the bolts 37 are tightened, thechosen angular positions are rigidly maintained in a very reliablemanner. The rearmost ends of the two arms 36 carry substantiallyhorizontally bearings which stub shafts at the opposite ends of acombined rotatable supporting member and soil crumbling member of theimplement in the form of a roller 39 are rotatably received. The roller39 is mounted in a freely rotatable manner and comprises a centralaxially extending, and preferably tubular, carrier to which a plurality,such as five, of substantially vertical support plates 40 are secured atregularly space apart intervals with two of said plates 40 located closeto the opposite ends of the carrier. In the embodiment which is beingdescribed, the support plates 40 are of generally octagonalconfiguration (FIG. 2) and corresponding corners thereof are rigidlyinterconnected by eight crumbling bars 41 that extend parallel to theaxis of rotation of the roller 39 at regular 45° intervals around thataxis. It is not, of course, essential that there should be eight of thecrumbling bars 41 and, although it is preferred that they should extendparallel to the axis of rotation of the roller 39, it is possible ro usea construction in which they are would helically around that axis tosome extent.

The rear end, with respect to the direction A, of the shaft 5 thatprojects into the gear box or casing 8 is provided, inside that casing,with a straight-toothed or spur-toothed pinion 42 whose teeth aredrivingly in mesh with those of a larger but otherwise similar pinion43. The pinion 43 is secured to a substantially horizontal rotarydriving shaft 44 that is parallel or substantially parallel to the shaft5 and to the direction A. Bearings mounted on top of the frame beam 3rotatably support the shaft 44 and its leading end that projectsforwardly from said bearings is connected, during the use of theimplement, by a universal joint to one end of a telescopic transmissionshaft 45 which is of a construction that is known per se. The leadingend of the telescopic transmission shaft 45 is connected by a furtheruniversal joint to the rear power take-off shaft of an agriculturaltractor or other vehicle which is to move and operate the implementduring the use of the latter. The rear of the gearbox or casing 8 issealingly closed by a releasable cover 46 and it will be seen from FIGS.1 and 2 of the drawings that the rearmost end of the shaft 44 projectsthrough a hole in the cover 46 from the back of the gearbox or casing 8.This rearmost end is splined or otherwise keyed and can be employed intransmitting drive to the moving parts of a further implement, machineor tool that may be used in conjunction with the soil cultivatingimplement or machine that is being described. It is noted that the speedof rotation of the shaft 5 can be changed, without altering the inputspeed of rotation that is applied to the leading end of the shaft 44, byremoving the cover 46 and substituting a different pair of co-operatingpinions for the pinions 42 and 43, the substitute pinions being ofdifferent sizes to the pinions 42 and 43. In this connection, it will beseen from FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings that the portion of the gear boxor casing 8 in which the pinion 42 is disposed is large enough to holdan alternative pinion of significantly greater diameter withoutdifficulty. The leading one of the three beams 18 with respect to thedirection A has a soil levelling member in the form of a shapeed plate48 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) releasably secured to it by bolts 47. The shapedplate 48 has a substantially horizontal portion and a downwardlydirected portion and acts to level the surface of the soil that is aboutto be engaged by the tines 27 or 32. Two pairs of lugs 49 are rigidlysecured to the frame beam 1 so as to project forwardly therefrom withrespect to the direction A at two locations which are spaced apart fromthe midpoint of the beam 1 by equal distances. A support extendsupwardly from the midpoint of the beam 1 and carries a pair of forwardlyprojecting coupling lugs 50 at its uppermost end. The upper end of thesupport which has just been mentioned is also connected to twohorizontally spaced apart locations at the top of the rear frame beam 3by a pair of downwardly and rearwardly convergent tie beams 51. As isillustrated somewhat diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings,the lugs 49 are arranged to co-operate with the free ends of the lowerlifting links of a three-point lifting device or hitch at the rear of anagricultural tractor or other operating vehicle with the aid ofhorizontal pivots whereas the upper coupling lugs 50 are arranged toco-operate by way of a pivot with the rear end of the upper adjustablelength lifting link of the same three-point lifting device or hitch.

In the use of the soil cultivating implement or machine that has beendescribed, its frame is connected to the three-point lifting device orhitch at the rear of an agricultural tractor or other operating vehicleby way of the coupling lugs 49 and 50. The known telescopic transmissionshaft 45 which has universal joints at tis opposite ends is employed toplace the rear power take-off shaft of the same tractor or otheroperating vehicle in driving connection with the leading end of theshaft 44. The transmission within the gear-box or casing 8 is aspeed-increasing step-up transmission but, before work commences, themagnitude of that speed increase will be adjusted, if required, byemploying the illustrated pinions 42 and 43 or, as mentioned above, analternative pair of co-operating pinions. The maximum depth to which thetines 27 or 32 can penetrate into the soil when the implement is in usecan also be adjusted, before work commences, by temporarily removing thebolts 37 and turning the arms 36. With the roller 39, upwardly ordownwardly, as may be required, about the axis defined by the pivot pins35. Once a new setting has been produced, it is reliably maintained byreplacing and tightening the bolts 37, the axis of rotation of theroller 39 then being fixed in level relative to the level of the frameof the implement. As the implement moves operatively in the direction Aover land that is to be cultivated, the shaft 5 is revolved, at a higherspeed than the shaft 44, and the rings 14 of the eccentric mechanisms 10move orbitally and rotationally around the shaft 5 and, similarly,around the shaft 5A, the latter shaft being driven from the shaft 5 bythe movements of the composite beams 18/22 and the mechanisms 10. Thedrive transmission to the ground-contact members of the implement which,in this embodiment, are in the form of either the tines 27 or thealternative tines 32, is such that the tips of those tines 27 or 32 andany point on one of the tines or one of the beams 18/22, performs acontinuous circular motion as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, thediameter of the circular path of movement having, with the constructionthat has been described, a magnitude of substantially 7 centimeters. Thedistance, in the direction A, between neighbouring pairs of the beams 18is greater than the width of one of those beams measured in the samedirection. It will, of course, be realised that the discs or bushes 11that correspond in position along the two shafts 5 and 5A are mounted inidentical angular settings around the longitudinal axes of those shafts.With the drive transmission to the tines 27 or 32 or otherground-contact members that has been described, the three consecutive(in the direction A) composite beams 18/22 are each coupled to onedriving, and one driven, eccentric mechanism 10 and, owing to theangular spacings of those members 10 around the respective shafts 5 and5A by angles of substantially 120°, there is very little, if any,jerkiness or jolting in the operation of the implement. It is thuspossible, by employing appropriate speed-increasing pinions in thegear-box or casing 8, to cause the beams 18/22 and their tines 27 or 32or other ground-contact members to move through the circular paths (FIG.3) that have been referred to above at speeds which may be as high as1,000 revolutions per minute whereby the tines 27 or otherground-contact members can produce a very intensive crumbling of thesoil, the area of the soil through which the crumbling action iseffective being enlarged by the high speed of rotation.

In addition to its supporting function which has been described above,the roller 39 produces still further crumbling of the soil and, inparticular, will crush any insufficiently crumbled lump of soil that mayexceptionally have been left upon the surface of the ground by theforegoing tines or other ground-contact members. The roller 39 governsthe maximum depth to which the tines or other ground-contact members canpenetrate into the soil and has a final levelling or smoothing effectupon the broad strip of ground that is worked by the implement. Theleading soil levelling member that is afforded by the shaped plate 48extends throughout the length of the leading beam 18 and is effective inensuring that the soil which will immediately subsequently be contactedby the tines 27 or 32 has a substantially smooth or at least levelsurface. The separate holders 24 for the tines 27 enable those tines tobe easily and reliably mounted in, or removed from, their appointedpositions. A badly worn or damaged tine 27 can readily be released fromits holder 24 merely by undoing the retaining nut 29 and withdrawing thecorresponding cotter pin 28. The new tine 27 is quickly replaced in itsholder 24 employing, if necessary, a fresh cotter pin 28, the latterbeing of a simple and inexpensive construction. The use of the springsteel or other resilient tines 32 in substitution for the tines 27 isparticularly but not exlusively, desirable for dealing with land that isheavily infested with weeds since the tines 32 cut up and tear out avery high proportion of the weeds thus greatly reducing the infestationas well as preparing the land for the subsequent growing of crops. Theresilient tines 32 also operate advantageously on heavy soils since theirregular vibratory movements which the perform during working willusually provide a more intensive crumbling of such soil than when rigidtines, such as the tines 27, are employed. It is emphasised that groundcontact members other than the tines 27 or 32 can be employed inimplements in accordance with the invention.

Although various features of the soil cultivating agricultural implementembodiments that have been described and/or that are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings will be set forth in the following claims asinventive features, it is emphasised that the invention is notnecessarily limited to such features and that it includes within itsscope each of the parts of each soil cultivating agricultural implementembodiment that has been described, and/or that is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, both individually and in various combinations.

What we claim is:
 1. A soil cultivating implement comprising a frame anda plurality of elongated, side-by-side beams supported on said frame,said beams each having tine means and extending transverse to thedirection of travel, said beams being interconnected to the frame withrespective eccentric mechanisms on spaced apart rotatable shafts ofdriving means, said rotatable shafts extending generally horizontal andin the normal direction of travel, said beams being moved throughgenerally circular paths about said shafts, the opposite ends of atleast one of said shafts being rotatably supported from correspondingframe beams that extend transverse to the direction of travel, the rearend of said one shaft being journalled in a gear box and having atoothed pinion of a speed-increasing step-up transmission, said pinionbeing in driven connection with a larger toothed pinion mounted on arotary driving shaft of said driving means.
 2. An implement as claimedin claim 1, wherein there are three beams and each of said shafts mountsthree eccentric mechanisms that are angularly spaced apart from oneanother by about 120° around the axis of the corresponding shaft, asregards their eccentricities.
 3. An implement as claimed in claim 1,wherein the longitudinal axes of said shafts are substantially parallelto one another and the respective eccentric mechanisms on the shaftsthat correspond to each beam occupy corresponding positions, as regardstheir eccentricities, on the shafts.
 4. An implement as claimed in claim3, wherein each eccentric mechanism comprises an eccentrically boredbush the longitudinal axis of which is spaced from the longitudinal axisof the bore therein by a distance of about 4 centimeters.
 5. Animplement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the outer surface of each bushis surrounded by a corresponding ring that is freely rotatable relativethereto on ball bearings interposed between the outer surface of thebush and the inner surface of said ring.
 6. An implement as claimed inclaim 3, wherein the rear of the gear box has a releasable cover, thepinions being connected to their respective shafts in a readilyreleasable and exchangeable manner.
 7. An implement as claimed in claim3, wherein said driving shaft includes a portion which projects from therear of said gear box.
 8. An implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein asoil crumbling roller is located to the rear of said beams and saidroller is adjustably connected to the frame by a pivot connection, theaxis of rotation of the roller being settable at any chosen one of aplurality of different levels relative to the level of said frame, theperiphery of the roller being comprised by a plurality of elongatedground-engaging elements that extend lengthwise with respect to the axisof rotation of the roller.
 9. A soil cultivating implement comprising aframe and a plurality of elongated, side-by-side beams supported on saidframe, said beams each having tine means and extending transverse to thedirection of travel, said beams being interconnected to the frame withrespective eccentric mechanisms on spaced apart rotatable shafts ofdriving means, said rotatable shafts extending generally horizontal andin the normal direction of travel, said beams being moved throughgenerally circular paths about said shafts, the longitudinal axes ofsaid shafts being substantially parallel to one another and therespective eccentric mechanisms on said shafts that correspond to eachbeam occupying corresponding positions as regard their eccentricities onthe shafts, each beam comprising two further beams of channel-shapedcross-section and an inner one of the two beams being nested inside theother, said inner beam having limbs with lengths about one third that ofthe limbs of other beam.
 10. An implement as claimed in claim 9, whereinthe limbs of the further beams project downwardly from the bases thereofand tine holders are located between the limbs of the inner beam.
 11. Animplement as claimed in claim 10, wherein each holder comprises afastening portion which abuts against the base of the inner furtherbeam.
 12. An implement as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bottom ofsaid fastening portion co-operates with fastenings that also secure thelimbs of the further beams to one another.
 13. An implement as claimedin claim 10, wherein each tine of said tine means comprises a fasteningportion that is secured in a corresponding holder.
 14. An implement asclaimed in claim 13, wherein the tine fastening portion is polygonal incross-section and has a recess substantially mid-way between its upperand lower ends, said recess co-operating with a wedging member fitted ina bore in a side of the holder.
 15. An implement as claimed in claim 13,wherein each tine has a soil working portion that is substantiallyrhombic in cross-section, adjacent the lower free end thereof.
 16. Animplement as claimed in claim 15, wherein the sides of the soil workingtine portion that is of substantially rhombic in cross-section, havegrooves that extend lengthwise along the soil working portion.
 17. Animplement as claimed in claim 13, wherein the maximum width of each tinein one direction is about three times the width of the same tine in adirection perpendicular thereto.
 18. An implement as claimed in claim13, wherein the tines are formed of strip-shaped spring steel.
 19. Animplement as claimed in claim 18, wherein said tines are formed inintegral pairs and a connecting portion between the two tines of eachpair extends between the limbs of the inner beam.